RAMALLAH. Israeli troops raided Al Jazeera’s bureau in the West Bank city of Ramallah early Sunday, enforcing a military order to close the office for 45 days. The Qatar-based news network aired live footage of Israeli soldiers entering the bureau with weapons drawn, delivering the closure order to the Ramallah bureau chief, Walid al-Omari.
According to the Israeli military, the bureau was sealed, and its equipment confiscated following an intelligence assessment that accused the network of using its broadcasts “to incite terror and support terrorist activities.”
“The channel’s broadcasts endanger the security and public order in both the area and the State of Israel as a whole,” the military said in a statement.
Al Jazeera swiftly condemned the raid, labeling it “a criminal act” and held Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government accountable for the safety of its journalists. The network vowed to pursue legal action to protect its rights and continue its reporting.
“Al Jazeera rejects the draconian actions and the unfounded allegations presented by Israeli authorities to justify these illegal raids,” the network said in a statement.
Al-Omari, speaking about the military order, said that Al Jazeera was accused of “incitement to and support of terrorism.” The soldiers, he reported, confiscated the bureau’s cameras before leaving.
Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi confirmed the closure, calling Al Jazeera “the mouthpiece” of Gaza’s Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. “We will continue to fight against enemy channels and ensure the safety of our heroic fighters,” Karhi said.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the raid, describing it as “a new violation against journalistic and media works,” accusing Israel of trying to silence reports exposing the occupation’s actions against Palestinians.
This is not the first time Israel has acted against Al Jazeera. In May, the Israeli government banned the network from operating within Israel, citing threats to national security. Following a court-authorized order, the Jerusalem hotel that served as Al Jazeera’s office was raided.
Al Jazeera, partially funded by the Qatari government, has consistently rejected accusations of harming Israel’s security, calling such claims “dangerous and ridiculous lies” that endanger its journalists. The network has also accused Israel of targeting and killing its reporters during the Gaza conflict, including Samer Abu Daqqa and Hamza AlDahdooh. Israel has denied these allegations.
Since its founding in 1996, Al Jazeera has been central to Qatar’s global media presence. Qatar, along with Egypt and the U.S., has been mediating ceasefire talks following Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel.
Tensions have escalated in the West Bank since Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza, with Israeli forces conducting frequent raids and arrest sweeps. The violence has led to increased clashes between Israeli troops, Palestinian fighters, and Jewish settlers attacking Palestinian communities.
As Israel continues its military activities, the impact on press freedom remains a key concern for journalists working in the region.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
